In the Drivers Seat

Four years ago, when I was 19, I was involved in a 5-car pileup with my mother’s Nissan Altima. Although I did not cause the crash, I was greatly affected by the consequences.

It was a clear day with no rain and I was driving alone when the driver in front of me unexpectedly slammed on his brakes. I felt a sense of relief as I stopped in time but then felt a frightening loss of control as my car thrust forward into the car in front of me. I could do nothing but brace myself for the impending crash and can still hear the sound of breaking glass and squealing tires when I think of it. Even though the car behind me also managed to stop in time, a fifth car driven by a driver not paying attention, slammed into that car, creating the domino effect of a 5-car pileup. My car was car number 3 in the lineup. I remember calling my parents in distress as the police arrived. Luckily, no one was seriously injured, although my neck was sore for awhile afterwards, and my mother’s car was considered “a write-off” by insurance because it would cost more to repair it than it was worth. Currently, there is a court case pending that was initiated by the driver at the rear of the collision who was at fault. My parents had to say goodbye to a perfectly good working car while quickly finding a replacement, as the car was essential for work and transportation.

A few months after this incident, while still young and inexperienced, I was driving on a busy street near where we lived. While preparing to turn right on a red light, I was stopped by the police and handed a $500.00 ticket for distracted driving. Along with this went a 6-month suspension of my N license (new driver designation), which meant that I was not able to drive for 6 months or apply to earn my full driver’s license. Plus, I had to begin the two-year new driver designation all over again. That was a harsh penalty, especially as I needed the car for work, and I did not even see the policeman dressed as a construction worker at the light. Apparently, he did not believe me when I said that I only glanced at my phone.

According to studies, inexperience and distraction are the top two reasons for car crashes in North America, particularly in the 16 – 19-year-old age group. Statistics show that this age group is at the highest risk for motor vehicle accidents and death, almost three times as high as any other age group of drivers. That was me, a young male driver, apparently at twice as much at risk for vehicular injury and death as the females in my group. Thankfully, no one was hurt by my driving at that time!

As harsh and as painful as the consequences were from these two driving mishaps for me and my family, they were also poignant learning moments that helped to strengthen my knowledge and understanding of the rules of the road, and helped me become a safer driver. After the 5-car pileup, I was grateful for the extensive driver’s training program that I was given when I first learned to drive. I’m sure those lessons from a knowledgeable instructor helped prepare me for the rigors of the road by encouraging me to expect the unexpected while driving as an inexperienced young driver.

However, even though I was prepared with information from school, during my drivers tests and in my driver’s education program, I was still caught reaching for my phone while driving. I did not see how that could make me an unsafe driver. It was the real-life consequences and penalties that taught me to be more careful when driving, and it was the real-life experience of an accident that woke me up to the realities of the responsibility of driving, and continues to do so.

It was the combination of book learning and experience that was important for preparing me as a young driver but with so much preventable death and destruction on the road, I wonder if new drivers wouldn’t be better served from the addition of more real-life training through simulation. We would not expect an airline pilot to jump into an aircraft without learning through realistic simulation so why can we not add simulated driving to help decrease the fear of the road, and increase the understanding of how bad driving can result in injuries or death without the risk of serious or life-threatening consequences. Many young drivers like I was, do not really understand the potential consequences of steering a multi-ton vehicle because, like me, it didn’t really hit home until I felt the impact of metal on metal, my parents losing a car, expensive fines having to be paid, or having the removal of my driving privileges.

Although I fit into the highest driver risk category at the time of my mishaps, I was lucky that no one was hurt due to my inexperience or distracted driving behaviour.

Like the great Mike Tyson said “Everyone’s got a plan ‘til’ they get punched in the head”.